Lead in Paint, CPSIA

CPSIA 2008

The US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) limits lead (Pb) and phthalates in products designed for children. For testing of phthalates click phthalates.

The CPSIA regulates total lead in contrast to the EU regulations which regulates bio-available lead. The former method requires a digestion in concentrated nitric acid (ASTM E1645)while the latter uses a simulated gastric fluid 0.07 M HCl (EN71-3:1994). In any case, the determination is generally done by ICP-OES or ICP-MS.

CPSIA will require testing be conducted by a third party laboratory accredited according to ISO 17025 by Jan 2010. Our application for accreditation is being prepared.

Over time, the maximum lead levels in children's products must decrease from 600 ppm (Feb 2009) to as low as 90 ppm in surface coatings (by Aug 2009)or 100 ppm in substrates (by Aug 2011).

CPSIA

CPSC Test Method

Interlaboratory Testing

We participate in two different programs, the American Industrial Hygiene Association ELPAT as well as the Institute for Interlaboratory Studies (IIS). Of the 88 labs worldwide in the IIS study, only 4 were from the US

Results from two studies (2009) are summarized here. Note that ELPAT dust results are not shown here but are available on request.

The CPSC method also requires that a reference sample NIST SRM 2581 be analyzed along with the samples.

For a quotation...

AIHA Results

Sample	Mean Result mg/kg	WCAS Reported	Z*
66-1	5.0420	5.0027	-0.1
66-2	2.1624	2.0802	-0.6
66-3	0.5088	0.5133	0.0
66-4	0.9755	0.9922	0.3

IIS Results

Sample	Mean Result mg/kg	WCAS Reported	Z*
0945	824	853	0.61
0946	126	132	0.60

* |Z| < 1 good, 1 < |Z| <2 satisfatory,
1 < |Z| < 3 questionable, |Z| > 3 unsatisfactory

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